The first quarter of the NFL season is over. Yes, some teams have played five games but when the season is 17 games at some point there has to be an extra one because there is no exact 25% factor.
So, choosing to make it here and then go with reports cards after weeks 9, 13 and the regular season ending, it is time to see what teams are doing well, thriving, failing, or nose-diving.
There are three teams left with undefeated records heading into Week 6, the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and Kansas City City Chiefs. On the flip side, the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans are all winless.
What grades have teams earned or deserve after a quarter of the NFL season?
Arizona Cardinals
Life is tough when you are in the NFC West. That said,
the Cardinals are 1-4 overall and 0-2 in their division. They have been outscored by 54 points. Their scouting department drafted Josh Rosen and Marvin Harrison Jr. in the first round in fairly recent years. Both proved to be disasters in the desert. Grade: D
Atlanta Falcons
This team seemed to be on its way with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback. Then it stumbled late against the Ravens and what could have been a three-game winning streak turned into an overtime loss. Overall, if as they say Penix's rib injury isn't serious, Atlanta should be considered a serious threat to win the awful NFC South. Grade: C+
Baltimore Ravens
They are 4-1 and atop the AFC North. That would seem to be a splendid start for coach Jesse Minter. The problem is they lost to the New Orleans Saints. The Ravens find a way to lose inexplicable games every year. Bonus points for defeating the soaring Falcons with Tyler Huntley at quarterback for an injured Lamar Jackson. Grade: B+
Buffalo Bills
The Bills are 4-1 and lead the AFC East after an incredible win over the Rams in Week 5. James Cook had better learn how to hold on to the football. Josh Allen is remarkable. Even when he doesn't kill you with his arm, he wills the Bills to wins with his legs. Grade: B+
Carolina Panthers
They split their first two games and have shown a split personality, too. Is this the team that rallied to win the NFC South last year or will it be a struggle to get to .500 (and likely have a chance to win the division, again). Hard to figure the Panthers from week to week. Grade: C-
Chicago Bears
A 3-2 record when having to overcome the loss of starting QB Caleb Williams could have Chicago in a good position when he returns. They were blitzed and blown out in Week 5 by the Packers. That is going to happen when you have backup quarterbacks against most teams. However, the defense, especially the secondary, getting strafed was not a good look. Grade: C+
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals can score points in bunches. Joe Burrow is still standing although Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase did suffer injuries that did not cost them games. The defense is better than the awful it has been in recent years. Will the Bengals show enough stuff through the 17-game season to get to the playoffs in a tough AFC North? If Burrow can stay on the field, the chances should be good. Grade: B-
Cleveland Browns
They were 3-1 and then went into MetLife and lost to the New York Jets. The Browns will always be the Browns, right. The three wins were surprising especially given Deshaun Watson's injury-riddled past. Then again, they lost to the Jets, a team almost everyone should beat. Anywhere. Grade: B-
Dallas Cowboys
This division is mediocre and Cowboys define that, having scored 138 points and allowed 136. There was no doubt the offense would be great and could score a ton of points. The hope was the defense would be better. Losing at home to a winless Buccaneers team before a national TV audience was beyond troubling. Now they bring in Mike Pettine to help the defense. Not sure Jerry Jones can stomach much more of this. Grade: C-
Denver Broncos
When the biggest story of a 3-2 start continues to be new offensive coordinator Davis Webb, one knows all isn't exactly humming with the Denver offense. Sean Payton has to want the former ordinary college quarterback to be savvy as an OC. It's just that with a team that has so many great expectations, it isn't a good look when the new OC is constantly under the microscope. Payton is a leader and should do just that , ignoring if Webb's feelings get hurt. Grade: C
Detroit Lions
The Lions are 3-2 and play football the way they did in the old AFL, scoring a ton of points and allowing almost as many. They have made games that should have been romps into thrillers. Nothing is going to change until the defense solidifies. Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jahmyr Gibbs will have to be in high gear all season. Grade: C
Green Bay Packers
Okay, so they ripped the Bears. How does that explain what the team did before that in splitting its first four games. The Packers have been outscored by eight points overall despite crushing Chicago. Was the win in Week 5 a good sign or a one-off? Grade: C-
Houston Texans
A team that made the playoffs last year is 1-4 and only because they beat the hapless Titans. Grade: F
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are 2-3 and that is about where they were expected to be. They can beat teams they have a chance at and they won't beat teams that are better than them as currently constructed. Good thing the division has turned up as awful. Grade: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars
How great a coaching hire has Liam Coen turned out to be? Trevor Lawrence is getting it done. The defense has allowed all of 70 points -- 14 per -- in five games. They have a two-game lead in the division and look like the real deal. Grade: A
Kansas City Chiefs
All you need to know is a team that was written off as past its prime is 4-0 and has outscored opponents by 41 points. That's a double-digit difference. Grade: A+
Las Vegas Raiders
The three-game winning streak to start the season has turned into a two-game losing streak against the Chiefs and Patriots. The latter two can be excused as those teams can be tough for anyone to beat. However, losing as badly as Vegas did in Foxboro could be worrisome. Grade: C+
Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert are 0-5. Charger culture that was supposed to have changed is back to miserable. The team gets hit by injury after injury. Could it be that Herbert isn't the superstar everyone seemed to think he is? Grade: F
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are 2-3 after a heatbreaking overtime loss to the Bills. They could be 1-4 except for two Kyren Williams late touchdowns the week before against the Eagles. This is not where people expected LA to be when it was tabbed the preseason Super Bowl favorite. They are three games behind the 49ers in the NFC West after five games. Not a great spot. Grade: C
Miami Dolphins
This team is B-A-D bad. Jeff Hafley thought Malik Willis was going to be the answer at quarterback? All he has done is create questions like, who will Miami draft at the position in 2027 first round? Grade: F
Minnesota Vikings
Brian Flores for Coach of the Year. Wait, he is the defensive coordinator. The Vikings have allowed 64 points over five games. That provides quite the cushion for the offense to be adequate. Just keep the defense off the field enough so it doesn't get gassed. Grade: A+
New England Patriots
Good thing this is after five games. After three, the grade would be totally different. Drake Maye was struggling and the Patriots had one win heading into Buffalo. Now, they are 3-2, having bounced the Bills and trounced the Raiders. Oh, and Maye has looked like the QB he was last year. Grade: B
New Orleans Saints
Another of the teams from the mediocre NFC South. The Saints have been disappointing en route to 1-4. The defense has been porous, allowing 151 points in five games. The offense is good but not good enough to keep up with that kind of ridiculous pace of points allowed. Grade: D
New York Giants
The Giants have benefited from John Harbaugh and a friendly schedule. They are heading into another game they can and should win against the struggling Saints. This is with Jameis Winston as the leader on offense, not Jaxson Dart. The 3-1-1 mark has them in good shape in the division. Grade: A-
New York Jets
Before getting all worked up about 2-3, they beat the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns. Not exactly the Murderers' Row of the NFL. Aaron Glenn has a lot of work to do to prove he will keep this job and it starts at New England in Week 6. Grade: D
Philadelphia Eagles
The roster is in flux. Injuries have ravaged the backfield. Coach Nick Sirianni made an inxplicable decision on the kickoff after what looked like the game-winning field goal in London against the Jaguars. They are going to have to find a way to survive the injuries. They are lucky the division is feeble. Grade: C-
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike McCarthy somehow has the Steelers at 3-2 despite Aaron Rodgers' occasional looks and comments. The defense is superb, per usual. The offense is okay. That's the Steelers way, right? Grade: B-
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners are a powerhouse. They are 5-0 and have outscored opponents by 61 points. Brock Purdy is playing like the league MVP and he has a ton of talen around him.
Seattle Seahawks
While the loss to the 49ers is understandable, how on earth did the Super Bowl champs lose to Washington. They definitely have to regret letting Kenneth Walker III walk -- run -- in free agency to Kansas City. Grade: C+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The only thing separating the Bucs from a failing grade is them going into Dallas and upending the Cowboys. They miss Baker Mayfield, yes, but 1-4, is still 1-4. Grade: D
Tennessee Titans
Where would you rather be, coaching the Titans or defensive coordinator of the 49ers? Robert Saleh took this job, made Brian Daboll the offensive coordinator and has 58 points to show for it in five games. They are winless and not looking good. Grade: F
Washington Commanders
The lone win is against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Talk about bizarre. And while everyone has fun deciding whether it was Jayden Daniels, David Blough, or Dan Quinn who was at fault during the final seconds against the Giants, it is being ignored they blew a 14-point lead late in the fourth quarter to get into the jam. Grade: D
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: NFL grades from A to F for all 32 teams after first quarter of season
